It was exciting to finally be off for our family trip to Turkey, but it was also a little sad on account of Malcolm's parents not being able to go. The complete extended family trip to celebrate Elliot's 21st Birthday was not to be.
Albanys apparently love challenges. 7 family members will be Europe bound on 4 separate flights. My parents were first cabs off the rank on their Turkish Airlines flights. We stuck with firm favourites Singapore Airlines, and the older 2 Albany children will fly Qatar which offered the cheapest one way flights. Let's hope they make it...Last but not least, young Jonah will fly with the school on Emirates 2 days later. Thank you to Bahari neighbours for looking after him and friends for taking him to the airport!
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| Still smiling. The message from the kids came shortly after! |
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| My breakfast prior to arriving in Turkey. |
As it turned out, Elliot and Lara had hurdles to jump to get to Istanbul. Thank you Qatar Airways for educating me on all the possible ways one could get from Sydney to Istanbul in a hurry! Thank goodness for free in-flight wifi on Singapore Airlines, a very helpful Amex Travel agent and happy-go-lucky well travelled kids.
Qatar told the kids while they were in the line at Sydney Airport that they had been moved to a flight arriving in Istanbul 2.5 days later. Despite the fact that the plane to Doha DID leave Sydney that evening. The person at the desk was unhelpful and obstructive. Amex found out that the children's leg from Doha to Istanbul had been cancelled, but Qatar still refused to let them board the Sydney to Doha leg. We suspect it was overbooked. Either way, we were scrambling. The eventual solution was Qantarse and Turkish Airlines flying via Jakarta and arriving only 18 hours after their original flights. Beggars can't be choosers. Amex got out money back from Qatar and has helped us with our insurance claim.
My parents thankfully did arrive safely at Istanbul - now firm converts to being fans of Turkish Airlines!
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